Eclesiastés 6
Lexham English Bible
1Here is another misfortune that I have seen under the sun, and it is prevalent among humankind.
2God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; yet God does not enable him to enjoy it—instead someone else ends up enjoying it. This is vanity—indeed, it is a grievous ill!
3Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years so that the days of his years are many, if his heart is not satisfied with ⌞his prosperity⌟ and ⌞he does not receive a proper burial⌟, I deem the stillborn better than him.
4For he comes into vanity and departs into darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness.
5He has neither seen nor known the sun, yet he has more rest than him.
6Even if a man lives a thousand years twice, if he does not enjoy ⌞prosperity⌟, ⌞both suffer the same fate⌟!
7All of a man’s toil is for his mouth— yet his appetite is never satisfied.
8So do the wise really have an advantage over fools? ⌞Can the poor really gain anything by knowing how to act in front of others⌟?
9⌞Better to be content with what your eyes see than for your soul to constantly crave more⌟. This also is vanity and chasing wind!
10Whatever is—it was already determined, ⌞what will be—it has already been decided⌟. As for man, he cannot argue against what is more powerful than him.
11⌞Increasing words only multiplies futility⌟, how does that profit anyone?
12For who knows what is good for a man in his life during the few days of his fleeting life, which are fleeting as a shadow? For who can tell anyone what will happen ⌞in the future⌟ under the sun?
Reina-Valera 1909
1HAY un mal que he visto debajo del cielo, y muy común entre los hombres:
2Hombre á quien Dios dió riquezas, y hacienda, y honra, y nada le falta de todo lo que su alma desea; mas Dios no le dió facultad de comer de ello, sino que los extraños se lo comen. Esto vanidad es, y enfermedad trabajosa.
3Si el hombre engendrare ciento, y viviere muchos años, y los días de su edad fueren numerosos; si su alma no se hartó del bien, y también careció de sepultura, yo digo que el abortivo es mejor que él.
4Porque en vano vino, y á tinieblas va, y con tinieblas será cubierto su nombre.
5Aunque no haya visto el sol, ni conocido nada, más reposo tiene éste que aquél.
6Porque si viviere aquél mil años dos veces, si no ha gozado del bien, cierto todos van á un lugar.
7Todo el trabajo del hombre es para su boca, y con todo eso su alma no se harta.
8Porque ¿qué más tiene el sabio que el necio? ¿qué más tiene el pobre que supo caminar entre los vivos?
9Más vale vista de ojos que deseo que pasa. Y también esto es vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.
10El que es, ya su nombre ha sido nombrado; y se sabe que es hombre, y que no podrá contender con el que es más fuerte que él.
11Ciertamente las muchas palabras multiplican la vanidad. ¿Qué más tiene el hombre?
12Porque ¿quién sabe cuál es el bien del hombre en la vida, todos los días de la vida de su vanidad, los cuales él pasa como sombra? Porque ¿quién enseñará al hombre qué será después de él debajo del sol?
King James Version
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
2A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
3If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
4For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
6Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
World English Bible
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men:
2a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
3If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he;
4for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.
5Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.
6Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place?
7All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
10Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.
11For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?
12For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?